Source: European Parliament
The EU reacted swiftly to the detention of mayor İmamoğlu and the arrests and charges brought against elected officials, political activists, civil society and businesses representatives, journalists, and others with the Statement of the High Representative/Vice-President and Commissioner for Enlargement of 19 March 2025[1].
On 24 March 2025,[2] the Commission urged the Turkish authorities to uphold democratic values and to fully respect the rights of elected officials as well as right of peaceful demonstration.
It reminded that as a Council of Europe member and EU candidate, Türkiye must uphold democratic values. The Commission, as well as the Delegation of the EU to Türkiye, expressed both in public and in private meetings with the Turkish authorities the need for Türkiye to uphold the EU standards in relation to freedom of expression and of assembly, including in relation to recent detentions of peaceful protesters in recent weeks.
The Commission has regularly raised its concerns on the detention conditions in Turkish prisons and detention centres in its enlargement reports on Türkiye[3] and in particular on the need to improve access to healthcare, rehabilitation and resocialisation programmes.